A traumatic brain injury can be debilitating for children even seven years after the injury, according to a recent study. A team at the University of Paris-Saclay investigated the presence of and factors linked with self- and parent-reported fatigue seven years after a severe childhood traumatic brain injury. In the study, 38 participants between the ages of 7 and 22 submitted self-reports and/or parental reports seven years after a childhood traumatic brain injury.
What the Study Found
The team of researchers found that fatigue levels were substantially worse in the group with traumatic brain injuries than in the control group, particularly for cognitive fatigue. They also found correlations of reported fatigue with age at injury, gender, severity of the brain injury and intellectual ability were moderate and not often significant. However, fatigue was significantly associated with overall level of disability.
The authors wrote that high levels of fatigue were reported by 30 to 50% of patients seven years after a severe childhood traumatic brain injury. Researchers said one option to help treat children with severe traumatic brain injuries is by using a new adapted form of cognitive behavioral therapy, a method that may reduce both the anxiety and depressive symptoms following an injury. Anxiety and depression are typically symptoms that do occur following a traumatic brain injury.
Understanding Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury or TBI is caused by an external force such as a blow to the head, which causes the brain to move inside the skull or damages the skull. This in turn damages the brain. Some of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries in the United States include falls, car accidents, assaults, sports injuries or acts of violence.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2014, about 2.9 million TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths occurred in the United States including more than 837,000 among children. Brain injuries contributed to the deaths of 56,800 people including 2,529 children. TBI was diagnosed in about 288,000 hospitalizations including more than 23,000 among children.
As this study indicated, anyone who has suffered a head or brain injury needs prompt medical attention and very likely, continuing treatment and therapy. Even cases that tend to be described as a “mild” brain injury such as concussions can be dangerous and have long-term effects.
The key factor when it comes to treating brain injuries is the extent and the location of the damage. A brain injury is usually diagnosed with a neurological exam, neuroimaging testing such as MRI or CT scans and other assessments. Almost all patients will benefit from rehabilitation to help with long-term recovery that might include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and psychological support.
The cost of the continuing support and treatment that brain injury patients require may add up very quickly. In cases where individuals have suffered severe brain injuries, they may need lifelong care to maintain their quality of life, which can amount to millions of dollars.
A victim who has suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence (carelessness), may be able to seek compensation for damages including medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitative treatment, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident, due to a birth injury or due to some other act of negligence (carelessness), the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.mdmag.com/medical-news/fatigue-severe-traumatic-brain-injury